Need suggestions for this simple joint

question

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

On posts like this one I often seem to be the only one that doesn't understand the question. Does this dovetailed piece hold the case sides together like the drawer dividers show in my attached picture? If so you are proceeding backwards. Once I am sure what the need is I can answer the question.

Will this joint be visible in the finished piece?

What is FWW ref. I have them and can look up this project.





I don't know why people use double tails for holding sides together. Vastly easier to use a single sided tail for this task.

Re: question

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

Sorry. Probably not explaining the question well enough.

This is from Fine Woodworking Issue # 161.

The joint pointed to with the red arrows.

Thank you.

This is a critical joint

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

This kind of joint can, and should be used in every case piece you will ever make, as well as shelves. Now is a good time to learn to do it.

Search every WC post I have ever done on building a case piece. I describe in detail how to easily make this joint. If necessary I can describe this process again, but I would rather not need to do it again. The process is what I learned in the Headley shop.

The male part can be cut with the jig I describe in these posts. I encourage you to build it. Everyone in the club that has built it uses it for this joint. It will make making these joints trivial. I can knock them out in less than 5 min. If trivial you will use them. They are so easy to make I even use them for the backs of case pieces.

Another way to make the male part is shown in PIC.

Re: This is a critical joint

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

Thanks.

A quick Google search using "case tindall site:woodcentral.com" and "case tindall headley site:woodcentral.com" has provided some info.

So simple. I shouldn't have needed to ask...

Re: This is a critical joint

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

If after a bit of practice if you are not finding making this joint easy there is some detail(s) you haven't discovered. In that case call or write.

When I took the Headley class, Jeff began setting up machines to make these joints for the class participants. Steve was walking by and was asked how it was done in 1780. He retired to his bench and returned with the angled guide block. He described the process. I had my joints done before Jeff completed machine set up.

Shown is me making my first joint

another employment

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Once you learn to make this joint proficiently you will find many used for it as the best means of holding horizontal elements together. Shown are desk stretchers(desk is on its back with feet pointed in the air). The single sidedness of the tail makes the joint easy to make and easier to fit with the stoke of the plane if it is too snug.

Re: another employment

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

Last night I gave it a try. Too easy.

I'll practice some more and tweak my set up, but this was the first attempt:

Thanks for the info.

Re: another employment

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

The criteria on a hidden joint is is it mechanically adequate. That joint will hold the sides together just fine. It is as good as I make them, though I do half the work by making half a tail.

Half a tail is better than none